Lever lock mechanism



Feb. 6, 1940. J; w 2,189,051

LEVER LOCK MECHANISM Filed Sept. 7; .1938 Z SheetS-Shwt 1 In van-i01 JbhzzC walzl 4 mm 6W @411 Feb. 6, 1940. J, AHL i 2,189,051

LEVER LOCK MECHANISM Filed Sept. 7. 193B 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 a v IU raven/for JolznCZZ/ahL Patented Feb. 6, 1940 LEVER LOCK MECHANISM John C. Wahl, Chicago, 111., assignor to Lion Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application September 7, 1938, Serial No. 228,763

14 Claims.

The invention relates to lever lock mechanism.

In coin operated vending and amusement machines of the type having a cabinet with interior operating mechanism which is manually initiated into operation upon swinging movement ,of an exterior lever, it sometimes happens due to jamming or failure of the operating mechanism properly to function, that under such circumstances the operator will bear down on the lever with considerably more than the normal force required to operate the mechanism from the lever. When this happens breakage and damage of the interior operating mechanism results and the illustrative example herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure in which form; a coin operated machine has a cabinet and a wall 30 thereof carries the fulcrum for an exteriorly located hand lever movable through an arc to operate parts on the inside, reinforced, face of the wall, said parts in turn operating means to rock a shaft of the interior operating mechanism of the coin operated machine. In the event something goes wrong with the interior operating mechanism and a greater than normal resistance is set up against its operation through the rock shaft by the hand lever, then a lock means operatively associated with the lever parts comes automatically into playv to lock the lever to the reinforced wall to prevent its further movement, no matter how hard the operator may force same. In this manner the coin operated machine is saved from damlage.

The improved mechanism, in one practicable form, is shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a general inside face elevational view'of the improved lever mechanism as viewed generally from the line I- I of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing thelever in locked position; I

Figure 3 is a-vertical view through the mechanism, taken along the line 33 of Figure 2,

looking. in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 4'4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated; and,

invention is to provide Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of the lever bearing fulcrum member.

PATENT oFFics f I The coin operated machine with which the I invention may be used has a cabinet I0 including a side wall I I, the inner face of whichis suitably reinforced by a metal plate I2 fastened thereto. A large horizontal circular opening I3 is formed in the wall II and plate I2 in which opening is journaled a cylindrical bearing or fulcrum part It projecting a substantial distance beyond the outer face of the wall I I where it is surrounded by a collar member I5 secured to the wall, as shown. bearing cylinder I4 has two diametrically opposed bosses I6 extending therefrom, whichfit into corresponding openings in the fulcrum end of a hand lever I'I. At the points mentioned the lever will be securely welded to the part I4 so that in practice they may rock as one integral unit. r I

The opposite end of the bearing I 4 extends slightly through the plate l2 where it has other bosses I8 to fit into openings of complementary shape formed in a lever arm I9, these parts also being connected by welding so that the arm I9 rocks with the lever IT. A cap is placed over the outside of the lever fulcrum I I by means of a screw bolt 2|, a nut 22 being provided on the inside face of the lever arm I9 securely, to clamp the parts together.

cylinder bearing i4, and lever arm I9 are a func tionally integral unit journaled in the wall opening I3, the cap I5 and the alined opening in the reinforcing plate, I2. v

The coinoperated machine parts in the interior of the cabinet may be of any desired form, in the present instance taking the form of a horizontal rook shaft23journaled in a wall 24. This shaft projects through the wall, and on its end proximate the wall II,v said shaft has a lever arm 25 fixed thereon, the arm in turn fixedly carrying a pin 26.

Going back now to the lever arm I9, it will be seen that a pull spring 21 is connected. to an ear thereof, the other end of the said spring being suitably anchored to the plate 12, as shown.

Said arm I9 has an upper stop boss 28 and a lower stop boss 29 formed thereon so that as the arm I9 swings about the axis of the bearing I4,

these bosses may engage rubber cushion blocks 30 respectively anchoredin brackets 3I rigidly mounted in angularly'disposed positions on, the plate I2. In this fashion limits are provided for the swinging movement of the lever H. The spring 21, of course, normally holds the lever unit structure comprising parts I1, I 4 and I9 in theposition shown in Figure 1.

The outer end of the Thus the lever I'I,

Between thestop blocks 30, the plate I2 has I jacent the lower boss 29 the lever arm l9 carries a pin 33 on which is freely pivoted a dog 34 having a hole 35 formed therein to receive a pin 36 of muchsmaller diameter, said pin being carried on the lever arm 19. By means of the structure described the dog 34 hangs by gravity on the pin 36 as shown in the drawings in which position the point of the dog 34 stays clear of the teeth on the rack bar 32. In the event the lever I1 is very suddenly, or too quickly swung clockwise, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dog by inertia is caused to engage in the teeth of the rack bar 32 and lock the lever ll against further movement, thereby preventing the lever I! from being used suddenly to shock or jar the interior parts, thus saving same from being damaged,

.Under such circumstance the operator must re lease the lever I! to free the dog 39 and start the lever operation over again.

-. smaller size than the opening 3i so that the pin may move bodily in the opening. The pin has a large cap 40 to guide the pin and hold it in the opening 3'5, said cap beingseated in the depression 38 and cooperating with the edge of the depression to act as a stop. Said pin 39 is riveted into an irregularly shaped lever 4| which as seen in Figures 1 and 2 has a tail portion 52 pulled by a spring 43 connected to a pin 4d mounted on the lever arm I9. This spring thus normally holds the pin 39 with its cap 49 over to the left as viewed in Figure 1.

The auxiliary lever 4| has an upstanding portion and an angularly extending portion 45 terminating a toothed foot 48 positioned proximate the rack bar 32. The portion 45 carries two spaced rigid transverse pins n and secured to the pinsis a rigid driver bar 48 adapted to engage the pin 26 heretofore described for rooking the arm 25 and shaft 23. This completes the details of the structure and the operation thereof will next be described.

The normal starting position shown in Figure 1. The operation of the inertia pawl .or dog 34 and its purpose has already been described and will not be repeated. The spring 21 normally holds the lever arm I9 with the bearing i l and main hand lever ll rocked back to the positions thereof shown in Figure l. The spring 43 acts to hold the auxiliary lever 4i over to thev left because of the slidable pivot 39 pro' vided therefor. In normal operation the hand lever I1 is slowly swung clockwise as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. Presently the driver bar 98 engages the pin 26 to rock the member 25 and the shaft 23 to operate the coin machine. When this happens the toothed shoe G6 clears the rack bar 32 and skirts same without making engagement therewith. In the event, however, that something has gone wrong with the driven parts 23, 25 and the resistance therefrom transmitted to the driver bar 48 is greater than normal, then the resisting force will raise the extension 45 of the lever Al to move the auxiliary lever M rel ative to the lever I9. In other words, the spring 43 gives and the pivot pin 39 shifts in the opening 37 to occupy the right hand position shown in Figures 2 and 4. Obviously, in this position,

the toothed shoe 46 has moved sufficiently to engage and lock with the toothed bar 32 whereby positively to prevent further movement of of the parts is the lever IT. The lever I! cannot now be forced and the interior operating mechanism of the machine will be saved from damage. In the normal operation the cushion blocks. 30 save the parts from shock in an obvious manner.

It can now be seen that an improved lever changes and modifications as do not in material respects constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as covered in the appended claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In a lever mechanism for operating a rockable part, said mechanism comprising a support, a functionally integral unit carried in the support for rocking movement and comprising a hand lever, a bearing and alever arm, with the arm disposed on opposite sides thereof, a toothed barrigidly positioned on the support, an auxiliary lever, means carrying the latter lever for relative movement on the arm, driver means on the auxiliary lever to engage and operate the rockable part, and a lock means associated with the auxiliary lever and engageable with the support carrying the bearing and the lever and v toothed bar to lock the unit against movement when resistance of the rockable part causes movement of the auxiliary lever to engage its. lock means with the toothed bar.

' 2. In a lever mechanism for operating a rockable part, said mechanism comprising a support,-

a functionally integral unit carried in the support for rocking -movement and comprising a hand lever, a bearing and a lever arm, with'the support carrying the'bearing andthe lever and arm disposed on opposite sides thereof, a toothed bar rigidly positioned on the support, an auxiliary lever, means carrying the latter lever forpivotal and bodily shifting movement on the arm, driver means on the auxiliary lever toengage and operate the rockable parts, and a lock part included in the auxiliary lever and cooperable with the toothed bar to lock the unit against movement when resistance of the rockable part causes pivotal and shifting movement from the auxiliary lever, and a part on the auxiliary lever movable therewith to engage the notched member and-lock the first-lever against movement when resistance of the rockable part is suficient to cause relative movement of the auxiliary lever.

4. In a lever mechanism for operating'a rockable part, a support, a lever fulcrumed on the support, an arm movable with the lever, an aux-.

iliary lever carried. on the arm for pivotal and shifting movement with respect thereto, an arcuate rack bar rigidly carried on the support,

means to engage and operate the rockable part from the auxiliary lever, and a toothed part on the auxiliary lever movable therewith to engage the rack bar and lock the first lever against movement when resistance of the rockable part is sufiicient to cause pivotal and shifting movement of the auxiliary lever.

5. In a lever mechanism for operating a rock-' able part, a support, a lever fulcrumed .on the 1 i support, an arm movable with the lever, an auxiliary lever carried on the arm for relative movement with respect thereto, a lock member rigid on the support, means to operate the rockable part from the auxiliary lever, resilient means to hold the auxiliary lever against movement relative to the arm, and a lock part movable with the auxiliary lever cooperable with the lock member to lock the first lever against movement when resistance of the rockable part is sufiicient to cause relative movement of the auxiliary lever.

6. In a lever mechanism, a support, a lever fulcrumed thereon, an arm movable therewith, an auxiliary lever carried on the'arm, said auxiliary lever adapted to engagev and operate a rockable part, means enabling the auxiliary lever to have pivotal and shifting movement relative to the arm, spring means holding the auxiliary lever normally against movement with respect to the arm, and means to lock the first lever against movement when the auxiliary lever has relative movement with respect to the arm resulting from more than normal resistance of the rockable part fulcrumed thereon, an arm movable therewith,

an auxiliary lever carried on the arm, said auxiliary lever adapted to engage and operate a rockable part, means enabling the auxiliary lever to have pivotal and shifting movement relative to the arm, spring means holding the auxiliary lever normally against movement with respect to the arm, and cooperable parts on the auxiliary lever and support to lock the first lever against movement when the auxiliary lever has relative movement with respect to the arm resulting from more than normal resistance of the rockable part to operation by the auxiliary lever.

8. In a lever mechanism, a support, a lever iulcrumed thereon, an arm movable therewith, an auxiliary lever carried on the arm, said auxiliary lever adapted to engage and operate a rockable part, means enabling the auxiliary lever to have movement relative to the arm, means limiting such movement, means yieldably holding the auxiliary lever against such relative movement, and cooperable parts on the auxiliary lever and support to lock the first lever against movement when the auxiliary lever has relative movement with respect to the arm resulting from more than normal resistance of the rockable part to operation by the auxiliary lever.

9. In a lever mechanism, a support, a horizontal bearing in the support, a hand lever and lever arm rockable together about the bearing axis, said arm having opposite bosses thereon, brackets on the support disposed in spaced relation on an arc, cushions in the brackets cooperable with the bosses to limit the swing of the lever and arm, an auxiliary lever carried on the arm for movement about a sliding pivot, an arcuate rack bar on the support, a toothed part on the auxiliary lever to cooperate with the rack bar, a spring to pull the auxiliary lever normally to keep the toothed part away from the rack bar, and a driver on the auxiliary lever to thrust against rockable parts to operate same, said driver when resistance from the rockable parts is greater than normal acting to shift the auxiliary lever and engage the toothed part with the rack bar to lock the'lever against movement.

10. A lever mechanism comprisinga lever arm fulcrumed on a horizontal axis in a support, an irregularly shaped auxiliary lever carried on the arm for pivotal and shifting movement, said arm including a toothed part, a complementary part rigid on the support, a driver part carried on the auxiliary lever spaced from the toothed part, said driver part adapted to engage'pro'ximately disposed rockable parts, a spring pulling the auxiliary lever, means to limit swinging'movement of the arm means to limit relativemovement of the auxiliary lever, the toothed part moving with the auxiliary lever when resistance to the driver part exceeds normal, to cause engagement of the toothed part with the complementary part to lock the lever.

11. A lever mechanism comprising-a lever arm fulcrumed on a horizontal axis in a support, an arm movable therewith, means to limit the arc of movement of the arm, an arcuate toothed rack vbar carried on the support adjacent the arm, and

an inertia dog carried pivotally for limited relative movement on the arm and adapted to engage,

the rack bar and lock the lever mechanism against movement when the latter is moved too rapidly.

12. In a lever mechanism, a support structure, a lever fulcrumed thereon, an arm movable therewith, an auxiliary lever, means carrying the auxiliary lever for movement with and for independent movement relative to said arm, said auxiliary lever being positioned adjacent a movable part and adapted to engage and move said movable part, yieldable means normally to prevent relative movement of the auxiliary lever with respect to the arm, a stationary lock member associated with the support structure, and a cooperable lock part operatively associated with the auxiliary lever and serving when the auxiliary lever moves relative to the arm against the yielding means as the result of abnormal resistance from the movable part to engage the lock member and prevent further movement of the lever.

13. In a lever mechanism for operating a movable part, a support structure, a hand lever fulcrumed on the support structure, an arm movable with the lever, an auxiliary lever, means carrying the auxiliary lever for movement with and for independent movement relative to said arm, said auxiliary lever being positioned adjacent the movable part so that it is adapted to engage and operate same, a lock member rigidly included in .the support structure,a yieldable connection bebell crank ,pivotally carried at its angle on the plate, said auxiliary lever having a tail, a spring connected between the plate and tail, the other leg of the auxiliary lever including a driver bar part and an extended lock part, and means for connecting'an intermediate portion of the tail part to said plate for limited relative movement.

JOHN C. 'WAHL. 

